REVOLVE ACCOUNTING
What You Need Before Filing VAT With SARS
By Revolve Accounting
Published: 20 February 2026
Filing VAT doesn’t have to be stressful — as long as you have the right documents ready. Before submitting your VAT return, make sure you have the following:
1. All sales invoices (with VAT clearly shown)
SARS needs complete and accurate records of your taxable income.
2. Supplier invoices for any expenses you’re claiming
You can only claim input VAT if the invoice includes:
- Supplier Name
- VAT Number
- Date
- Description
- VAT Amount
- Total Amount
3. Bank statements for the period
Your VAT return must match your bank activity to avoid discrepancies.
4. Credit notes (if applicable)
These are needed for returns, refunds, or corrections.
5. A clean set of monthly bookkeeping records
Without accurate capturing and reconciliations, VAT submissions become guesswork.
6. A summary of input vs output VAT
This determines whether SARS owes you — or you owe SARS.
Preparing these documents in advance makes VAT fast, accurate, and stress-free.
If you’re tired of last-minute VAT stress, we can keep your books clean and organised while trusted partners handle your VAT submissions accurately and on time.